Monster Beverage, Coca-Cola expand distribution agreementIn August 2014, Monster Beverage (MNST) and Coca-Cola (KO) entered into definitive agreements for a long-term strategic partnership to accelerate growth for both companies in the global energy drink category. Under the agreements, Coca-Cola will acquire an approximate 16.7% ownership interest in Monster and will transfer ownership of its worldwide energy business to Monster, which, in turn, will transfer its non-energy business to Coca-Cola. Monster and Coca-Cola will amend their current distribution coordination agreements to expand distribution with Coca-Cola bottlers into additional territories. Upon closing, Coca-Cola will become Monster's preferred distribution partner globally, and Monster will become Coca-Cola exclusive energy play. The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close in Q2.

J.C. Penney ended year with liquidity of approximately $2.1BFor Q4, gross margin improved 540 basis points to 33.8% of sales, compared to 28.4% in the same quarter last year. Gross margin was positively impacted by significant improvement in the company's merchandise mix and margin on clearance sales over the prior year quarter.

J.C. Penney volatility elevated into Q4 and outlook J.C. Penney February weekly call option implied volatility is at 168, March weekly calls are at 91, April is at 55; compared to its 26-week average of 54 according to Track Data, suggesting large near term price movement into the expected release of Q4 results today.

Piper reiterates J.C. Penney as top pick for 2015Piper Jaffray analyst Neely Tamminga reiterates J.C. Penney as a top pick for 2015 ahead of the retailer's year-end 2014 earnings report. Tamminga believes Penny's comp for February, the first month of its fiscal year, could be tracking up 4%. The analyst also thinks Penny management could express conviction in the retailer's plan to recapture share among moderate consumers on Thursday's earnings call. Tamminga has an Overweight rating on Penny with a $12 price target.

J.C. Penney move higher attributed to real estate speculationThe move higher in shares of J.C. Penney (JCP) is being attributed to speculation the company may look to monetize its real estate assets. The speculation seems to be originating from a Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) employee's webpage showing the retailer as a client. The JLL employee, Stephen Bridges, specializes in "assisting industrial users with the lease, purchase, and sale of real estate." It is not clear when Penny became a client of JLL. Shares of Penny rallied to a high of $8.50, and are trading up 16c to $8.29 in early trading. Reference Link